Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with the Austro-Hungarian Compromise of ...

(often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire) did not have a common flag (a " national flag" could not exist since the Dual Monarchy consisted of two sovereign states). However, the black-gold flag of the ruling

Habsburg Dynasty The House of Habsburg (), alternatively spelled Hapsburg in Englishgerman: Haus Habsburg, ; es, Casa de Habsburgo; hu, Habsburg család, it, Casa di Asburgo, nl, Huis van Habsburg, pl, dom Habsburgów, pt, Casa de Habsburgo, la, Domus Hab ...

was sometimes used as a ''de facto'' national flag and a common

civil ensign A civil ensign is an ensign (maritime flag) used by civilian vessels to denote their nationality. It can be the same or different from the state ensign and the naval ensign (or war ensign). It is also known as the merchant ensign or merchant fl ...

was introduced in 1869 for civilian vessels. Until 1918, the k.u.k. War Fleet continued to carry the Austrian ensign it had used since 1786; and the regiments of the k.u.k. Army carried the double-eagle banners they had used before 1867, as they had a long history in many cases. New ensigns created in 1915 were not implemented due to the ongoing war. At state functions, the Austrian black-yellow and the Hungarian red-white-green tricolor were used. Austria was represented by the black-yellow flag. The Hungarian half of the state, on the other hand, legally had no flag of its own. According to the Croatian–Hungarian Settlement (art. 62 and 63), in all joint Croatian and Hungarian affairs, symbols of both Croatia and Hungary respectively had to be used. For instance, whenever the joint Hungarian-Croatian Parliament held its session in Budapest, both the

Croatian Croatian may refer to: * Croatia *Croatian language *Croatian people *Croatians (demonym) See also * * * Croatan (disambiguation) * Croatia (disambiguation) * Croatoan (disambiguation) * Hrvatski (disambiguation) * Hrvatsko (disambiguation) * S ...

and Hungarian flags were hoisted on the parliament building in

Budapest Budapest (, ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Hungary. It is the ninth-largest city in the European Union by population within city limits and the second-largest city on the Danube river; the city has an estimated population ...

., p. 50 In Vienna, in front of

Schönbrunn Palace Schönbrunn Palace (german: Schloss Schönbrunn ; Central Bavarian: ''Schloss Scheenbrunn'') was the main summer residence of the Habsburg rulers, located in Hietzing, Vienna. The name ''Schönbrunn'' (meaning “beautiful spring”) has its root ...

, the black and yellow flag was flown for

Cisleithania Cisleithania, also ''Zisleithanien'' sl, Cislajtanija hu, Ciszlajtánia cs, Předlitavsko sk, Predlitavsko pl, Przedlitawia sh-Cyrl-Latn, Цислајтанија, Cislajtanija ro, Cisleithania uk, Цислейтанія, Tsysleitaniia it, Cislei ...

(Austrian half), while both Croatian and Hungarian flags were flown for

Transleithania The Lands of the Crown of Saint Stephen ( hu, a Szent Korona Országai), informally Transleithania (meaning the lands or region "beyond" the Leitha River) were the Hungarian territories of Austria-Hungary, throughout the latter's entire exis ...

(Hungarian half). Hungary proper used a red-white-green tricolor defaced with the Hungarian coat of arms, sometimes used to represent the entirety of the Lands of the Hungarian Crown. The "double" civil ensign, as a symbol of "corporate identity", was also used as the consular flag, as decreed on 18 February 1869. It came into use on 1 August 1869.

Legation A legation was a diplomatic representative office of lower rank than an embassy. Where an embassy was headed by an ambassador, a legation was headed by a minister. Ambassadors outranked ministers and had precedence at official events. Legations ...

s, however, flew the black-and-yellow flag of Austria alongside the red-white-green flag of Hungary, while

embassies A diplomatic mission or foreign mission is a group of people from a state or organization present in another state to represent the sending state or organization officially in the receiving or host state. In practice, the phrase usually deno ...

flew the two national flags alongside the imperial standard.

Flag A flag is a piece of fabric (most often rectangular or quadrilateral) with a distinctive design and colours. It is used as a symbol, a signalling device, or for decoration. The term ''flag'' is also used to refer to the graphic design emp ...
s as "national/state symbols"

File:Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy.svg, Flag of the Habsburg Monarchy (including Austrian and

Austro-Hungarian Empire Austria-Hungary, often referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire,, the Dual Monarchy, or Austria, was a constitutional monarchy and great power in Central Europe#Before World War I, Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. It was formed with t ...

), also used to represent

File:Flag of Hungary (1915-1918; angels; 3-2 aspect ratio).svg, Flag of the

Kingdom of Hungary The Kingdom of Hungary was a monarchy in Central Europe that existed for nearly a millennium, from the Middle Ages into the 20th century. The Principality of Hungary emerged as a Christian kingdom upon the coronation of the first king Stephe ...

also used to represent

File:Flag of Hungary (1896-1915; 3-2 aspect ratio).svg, Flag of the Kingdom of Hungary (coat of arms variant without

supporter In heraldry, supporters, sometimes referred to as ''attendants'', are figures or objects usually placed on either side of the shield and depicted holding it up. Early forms of supporters are found in medieval seals. However, unlike the co ...

s) File:Hungary Flag.svg, Flag of the Kingdom of Hungary (simplified version) File:Flag of Croatia-Slavonia with CoA.svg, Flag of the

Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia The Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia ( hr, Kraljevina Hrvatska i Slavonija; hu, Horvát-Szlavónország or ; de-AT, Königreich Kroatien und Slawonien) was a nominally autonomous kingdom and constitutionally defined separate political nation with ...

File:Flag of the Triune Kingdom of Croatia.svg, Unofficial, but common flag of the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia File:Flag of Croatia-Slavonia.svg, Flag of the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia (simplified version) File: Flag of Archduchy of Austria (1894 - 1918).svg, Flag of the

Archduchy of Austria The Archduchy of Austria (german: Erzherzogtum Österreich) was a major principality of the Holy Roman Empire and the nucleus of the Habsburg monarchy. With its capital at Vienna, the archduchy was centered at the Empire's southeastern periphery. ...

(national flag of

Austrians , pop = 8–8.5 million , regions = 7,427,759 , region1 = , pop1 = 684,184 , ref1 = , region2 = , pop2 = 345,620 , ref2 = , region3 = , pop3 = 197,990 , ref3 ...

) File:Flag of Austria.png, Flag of the Archduchy of Austria (simplified version)

Imperial
standards Standard may refer to: Symbols * Colours, standards and guidons, kinds of military signs * Standard (emblem), a type of a large symbol or emblem used for identification Norms, conventions or requirements * Standard (metrology), an object t ...

File:Imperial Standard of Austria-Hungary (Before 1915).svg, Imperial Standard with ''Medium'' Coat of arms (until 1915) File:Imperial Standard of the Emperor of Austria (1915–1918).svg, Imperial Standard
(1915–1918)

Ensign An ensign is the national flag flown on a vessel to indicate nationality. The ensign is the largest flag, generally flown at the stern (rear) of the ship while in port. The naval ensign (also known as war ensign), used on warships, may be diff ...
s

File:Flag of Austria-Hungary (1869-1918).svg,

Civil ensign A civil ensign is an ensign (maritime flag) used by civilian vessels to denote their nationality. It can be the same or different from the state ensign and the naval ensign (or war ensign). It is also known as the merchant ensign or merchant fl ...

1869–1918 File:Austria-Hungary-flag-1869-1914-naval-1786-1869-merchant.svg, Civil ensign 1786–1869;

Naval ensign A naval ensign is an ensign (maritime flag) used by naval ships of various countries to denote their nationality. It can be the same or different from a country's civil ensign or state ensign. It can also be known as a war ensign. A large vers ...

1786–1915
(''de facto'' until 1918)''The Flags & Arms of the Modern Era''
/ref> File:Austria-Hungary-flag-1915-1918-naval (non installed).svg, Naval ensign 1915–1918
(not implemented) File:Flag of the common ministries of the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown (1896-1915; 3-2 aspect ratio).svg, Royal Hungarian maritime ensign within Hungary

Regional flags

In addition, in Austria-Hungary were also used many different flags in local territories.

Examples of using flags in the era

File:Živio kralj Vlaho Bukovac.JPG, Visit of Emperor Franz Joseph I in

Zagreb Zagreb ( , , , ) is the capital and largest city of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb stands near the international border between Croatia and Sl ...

, red-white-blue (Croatian) flags, 1895 File:Exposition Universelle 1900 Paris - Pavillon de la Hongrie bis.jpg, Civil ensign and Austrian pennants on a French illustration advertising the Hungarian pavilion during Exposition Universelle in Paris, 1900 File:F Behrens – Kaiserfest.jpg, Emperor

Franz Joseph I Franz Joseph I or Francis Joseph I (german: Franz Joseph Karl, hu, Ferenc József Károly, 18 August 1830 – 21 November 1916) was Emperor of Austria, King of Hungary, and the other states of the Habsburg monarchy from 2 December 1848 until his ...

Merano Merano (, , ) or Meran () is a city and ''comune'' in South Tyrol, northern Italy. Generally best known for its spa resorts, it is located within a basin, surrounded by mountains standing up to above sea level, at the entrance to the Passeier V ...

(black-yellow flag), 1900 File:Razglednica Bohinjskega predora 1906.jpg, Bohinj tunnel opening ceremony (two-color flags), 1906 File:12361-Milowitz-1910-Militärlager-Brück & Sohn Kunstverlag.jpg,

Military base A military base is a facility directly owned and operated by or for the military or one of its branches that shelters military equipment and personnel, and facilitates training and operations. A military base always provides accommodations for o ...

Austro-Hungarian Army The Austro-Hungarian Army (, literally "Ground Forces of the Austro-Hungarians"; , literally "Imperial and Royal Army") was the ground force of the Austro-Hungarian Dual Monarchy from 1867 to 1918. It was composed of three parts: the joint arm ...

(two-color flag), 1910 File:SS Carniola ÖL.jpg, ''SS Carniola'' - Austro-Hungarian civilian steamship with civil ensign, 1912 File:Militärparade ringstrasse wien.jpg, Military parade in Vienna (two-color flags), 1913 File:The Assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, June 1914 Q79761.jpg, Imperial Standard on the car of Archduke

Franz Ferdinand Archduke Franz Ferdinand Carl Ludwig Joseph Maria of Austria, (18 December 1863 – 28 June 1914) was the heir presumptive to the throne of Austria-Hungary. His assassination in Sarajevo was the most immediate cause of World War I. F ...

, 1914 File:Reservists-IR 17.jpg, Soldiers of ''Infanterieregiment Nr. 17'' with two-color flag, 1914 File:Zeichnet 7. Kriegsanleihe - Th. Fasche. LCCN2006680287.jpg, Austro-Hungarian propaganda poster encouraging to buy

war bond War bonds (sometimes referred to as Victory bonds, particularly in propaganda) are debt securities issued by a government to finance military operations and other expenditure in times of war without raising taxes to an unpopular level. They are ...

s File:CentralPowersPoster3.jpg, World War I-era propaganda postcards depicting the flags of the

Central Powers The Central Powers, also known as the Central Empires,german: Mittelmächte; hu, Központi hatalmak; tr, İttifak Devletleri / ; bg, Централни сили, translit=Tsentralni sili was one of the two main coalitions that fought in ...

. The Austro-Hungarian flag shown as black-yellow File:Zur Wiebereroberung der Festung Przemysl, durch die verbündeten Truppen am 3. Juni 1915. (337584).jpg, A propaganda postcard commemorating the release of the

Przemyśl Przemyśl (; yi, פשעמישל, Pshemishl; uk, Перемишль, Peremyshl; german: Premissel) is a city in southeastern Poland with 58,721 inhabitants, as of December 2021. In 1999, it became part of the Subcarpathian Voivodeship; it was pr ...

fortress. Austria-Hungary represented by the black-yellow and red-white-green flags , 1915 File:Leaders of the Central Powers - Vierbund.jpg, Another

propaganda, with

being represented by a mix of both Habsburg and Hungarian flags File:Kaiser Karl I. in Pergine, 17.1.1917 (BildID 15549726).jpg, Emperor

Charles I Charles I may refer to: Kings and emperors * Charlemagne (742–814), numbered Charles I in the lists of Holy Roman Emperors and French kings * Charles I of Anjou (1226–1285), also king of Albania, Jerusalem, Naples and Sicily * Charles I of ...

visiting Pergine (two- and three-color flags), 1917 File:Wien II. Praterstrasse - 1917 (1).tif,

Vienna en, Viennese , iso_code = AT-9 , registration_plate = W , postal_code_type = Postal code , postal_code = , timezone = CET , utc_offset = +1 , timezone_DST ...

Praterstrasse, 1917 File:Kaiser Karl I. in Ozhydiv, 9.12.1917. Der Kaiser im Gespräch mit dem Kommandanten der Lehrkompanie 25, im Gefolge des Kaisers Feldmarschall Böhm-Ermolli, General der Infanterie Klaudius Czibulka und O (BildID 15445725).jpg, Emperor Charles I visiting troops in Ozhydiv (two- and three-color flags), 1917 File:Frontreise Karls I. vonm 14.6. bis zum 18.6.1917 an die Südostfront. Besuch in Ditro, 16.6.1917 (BildID 15565569).jpg, Emperor Charles I in front of the Hungarian flag, 1917 File:S.M.in Südtirol 13-16.9.17. (BildID 15569541).jpg, Emperor Charles I visiting one of the villages in

South Tyrol it, Provincia Autonoma di Bolzano – Alto Adige lld, Provinzia Autonoma de Balsan/Bulsan – Südtirol , settlement_type = Autonomous province , image_skyline = , image_alt ...

(two-color flag), 1917 File:SMS Gaa1.jpg, ''SMS Gäa'' - Austro-Hungarian torpedo carrier with naval ensign,

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

period

References

{{Lists of flags National symbols of Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary

Flag A flag is a piece of fabric (most often rectangular or quadrilateral) with a distinctive design and colours. It is used as a symbol, a signalling device, or for decoration. The term ''flag'' is also used to refer to the graphic design emp ...s as "national/state symbols"

Imperial standards Standard may refer to: Symbols * Colours, standards and guidons, kinds of military signs * Standard (emblem), a type of a large symbol or emblem used for identification Norms, conventions or requirements * Standard (metrology), an object t ...